Highlighting Agriculture

Eastern Edition

MARTIETTA, NY — Witnessing her grandfather die from a farm accident changed the course of Donna Hayley’s life. Now a consultant and trainer for the New York Department of Labor, Hayley was a farm girl of only 16 when she found her grandfather severely burned. His welding job ignited a fuel tank he thought was void of fumes. He passed away in the hospital burn unit from infection a week later. [Read more…]

HAMILTON, NY — Sir Albert Howard said, “Fertility of the soil is the future of civilization.” It behooves the farmer to protect this soil investment that will ultimately enhance the environment, profitability and feed society. If you haven’t heard, soil health and its intricate biology are leading the way to a new green revolution. “We owe it to our children to know and appreciate the power of life,” says soil health guru, Ray Archuleta. [Read more…]

Regulations put in place within the past year have essentially eliminated the routine use of antibiotics in livestock as supposed growth stimulants. Only in instances where a veterinarian has prescribed an antibiotic for a specific disease in an individual animal or group of animals can they be used in food producing animals. With the advent of these restrictions researchers at a number of institutions are searching for substances that may aid in improving gut health.

As most readers know it was thought for many years that the addition of antibiotics in small quantities not only improved feed utilization but also reduced the likelihood of low-grade intestinal infections. Consumer concerns, very likely well justified, brought an end to the practice on Jan. 1, 2017. [Read more…]

The American Dairy Association and Dairy Council (ADADC), Inc., District 5 annual meeting took place at the Perthshire, near Amsterdam, NY, on Sept. 30, with American Dairy Association North-East, Director of Consumer Confidence, Beth Meyer, as guest speaker. [Read more…]

ALBANY, NY — Would-be travelers to the Albany Airport had to do a double-take as the heralded Desmond Hotel and Conference Center had beef cows grazing on the lawn and smoky barbecue scents wafting toward the jets’ flight path. [Read more…]

by Tamara Scully Feeding dairy cattle isn’t as simple as following your nutritionist’s formula. That formula only works if the feed ingredients contain the nutrients expected, the ration is mixed properly, and the cows are eating everything, as prescribed.